CPT-EWR United Polaris
Had not found much info to help me understand what to expect on this flight so thought I'd write up a bit of a mini-trip report for others. Sorry for the lack of details, especially around food. That said, it was pretty much the same old substandard UA J menu.
As I checked in via the app, I have no direct report but arrived at the airport 2.5 hours in advance and noted only two people in the premier check-in line. UA has a lot of desks and staff in the lobby. N.B. there is NO premier security line and with a number of evening departures, it was probably 20 minutes from entering the line to clearing through security. It was not fun. Passport control followed and that took just a minute or two.
Exit passport control and head left all the way to the end of the terminal to the BA Lounge. In addition to BA's evening flight to London, it was also the lounge to Doha for Qatar. So, add in United, and it was pretty packed early on. Eventually the other two flights leave and it's just UA folks left. That said, there was a plenty of seating although not lots of choice for the late comers. BA has a solid bar and a limited food selection in the buffet although you can order much more substantial food (e.g. sandwiches, etc.) via a QR code at your seat and the food gets delivered to you pretty quickly. Friendly staff and fast wifi. A really great option.
The United gate, however, is at the other end of the terminal so plan for a 5-8 minute walk when you leave the lounge depending on your speed, luggage, and any family in tow.
Boarding was as boarding always is in the outposts of an airline, especially in the evening when people want to get on board and get to bed and put their kids into their place. Chaotic. But the ground staff was plentiful and did as best a job as they could.
Our 787 was showing its age. Lots of crumbs and such in crevices and different pieces of material peeling off. There were three (3!) inoperable Polaris seats, per my conversation with the purser. Those pax had two choices: the crew could manually put them into bed mode or landing/takeoff mode and nothing in between. One of the seats was behind me and it was criminal he was not reseated to an operational seat before the upgrades cleared. The crew did the best they could pulling pillows together to try and make the best of a bad, 15 hour situation.
Speaking of the crew, they were friendly and engaging but, boy, not very efficient. Drinks and unsalted nuts in a vending machine bag came out almost an hour after take off and dinner service was finished and the cabin lights dimmed 2.5 hours after take off. I don't know what they were doing but it wasn't heating the food. Mine came out cold to lukewarm. There was no menu so I have no details but it was a curry chicken, a fish in some sauce, and a vegetarian option. Proper salad--not the cauliflower thing--and the usual three dessert choices. Mid-flight snack was a 1/2 chicken wrap or 1/2 veggie wrap. The usual assortment of bagged vending machine foods were put out. Breakfast was an omelette or french toast. OH--and they ran out of gin before dinner even started!
We landed 20 mins early, putting us in right after 5am. Thought that'd give us a leg up on arrival but the passport control was already slammed by the time we got there.
Hope that helps other imagine the journey. Frankly, not much different than any other UA long haul once you got on the plane.
(And then I finished with the misery of going to EWR A first thing in the morning with no Clear and their faux PreCheck. I can't possibly hate EWR A any more than I already do!)